Advocate

For a real and lasting impact in the fight against hunger, we need your voice to make ending hunger a priority. Working hand in hand with community leaders and policy makers, we can solve this problem.

Advocacy Resources for You

For real and lasting impact, we need your voice to make ending hunger a priority. Our legislative advocacy agenda is guided by objective research, generated both internally and by leading research organizations and universities across the state and country.

We need your help to get beyond the sound bites and stereotypes to show how hunger is affecting real people. Your story has the power to help others know that they’re not alone. Inspire compassion and action by sharing your story with us. Submit your story on our contact form, or request to have our specially-trained story gatherers reach out to you.

We work with experts to analyze the hunger crisis in our community and provide you with easy to use information about Central Texas and each of the 21 counties we serve.

Our Issues

Focusing on specific public policy priorities, we inform decision makers at every level of government about hunger in their community and their role in ending hunger.

We work closely with our elected officials at all levels of government to educate them about hunger in Central Texas, and advocate for positive solutions to address it. Check out who’s visited the food bank.

Federal Policy

Preserving and protecting federal nutrition programs that nourish hungry Central Texans makes it easier for us to provide quality service to our community. We regularly communicate with elected officials about the impact the Farm Bill and the federal budget has on our operations and the families we serve.

2018 Farm Bill

The Farm Bill is comprehensive legislation considered every five years by Congress that includes programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, or “food stamps”), The Emergency Food Assistance Program, and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program. The two Congressional committees that will be making recommendations for the 2018 Farm Bill are the House Committee on Agriculture and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

State Policy

Because we’re conveniently located in the state capital, we make it our priority to work closely with the Texas Legislature during session, providing testimony in hearings, serving as an expert resource and advocating for policies to make our state hunger-free and healthy.

The Texas Legislature meets on odd-numbered years. The next regular legislative session begins January 8, 2019. However, the governor may call the legislature into special sessions before that date.

Accomplishments of the 2017 Texas Legislative Session

Increased funding for the Surplus Agricultural Grant Program to $9.4 million so food banks across the state can acquire and distribute more produce. Heightened awareness about delinquent school meal accounts, and the practice of “lunch shaming.” Although legislation did not pass to remedy the situation, it generated efforts to craft a statewide policy as well as a fundraising effort to clear accounts. Learn more here.

Prevented legislation advancing that would have created barriers for eligible Texans to participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Advocacy News

Read about the latest advocacy news and learn how you can take action to help the Food Bank.